Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Tampa
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $39,212 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Tampa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($333,200 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,706)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $39,212/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$39,212
$106,014 vs $66,802/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
36% lower
285.6 vs 444.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$220k less
$333,200 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Tampa wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $333,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Tampa, FL are about 1,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.